Device for supporting plates in tank construction



W. S. COLE Oct. 1, 1940.

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING PLATES IN TANK CONSTRUCTION Filed April 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W/AA/A/W .5. C045,

ATTORNEY.

(Itch/1;, 1Q. w. CQLE 2,216,70l

DEVICE FOR SUPPOBTING PLATE S IN TANK CONSTRUCTION Filed 27, 2 s s 2 FlG.4-.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII/J.

, INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 1, 1940 O 1: I Q I P UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING PLATES IN TANK CONSTRUCTION William S. Cole, Carteret, N. J i, 'ass'i gnor to Hammond Iron Works, Warren, Pag, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 27, 1939, Serial No. 270,436

Claims. (01. 29-89) This invention relates to the construction of deviceof the present invention showing the same tanks, in particular, relatively large steel tanks supporting a plate to be incorporated into a tank such as those utilized for the storage of liquids shell and in proper spaced relation with respect of all types and particularly oil, gasoline and to the previously constructed portion of the shell.

5 other petroleum products. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of a tank 5 v More specifically the invention comprises a wall or shell showing two plate carrying devices novel device for supporting steel plates, used of the present invention in the process of conin the construction of storage tanks, while such veying a plate into positionto be joined withplates are in the course of being properly posithe previously constructed portion of: the shell.

tioned with respect to previously positioned plates Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a plate 10 in the tank shell and for conveying and moving carrier embodying the features of the invention,- said plates into the ultimate proper position with showing parts of a tank shell and of a vplate sup-' respect to previously constructedproportions of ported by the carrier. a

the tank so that the plates may then be clamped Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device and the or otherwise secured in position and thereafter arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the tank shell and permanently attachedto or joined with the other the supported plate being shown in section, taken portions of the structure. on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

One object of the invention is to provide a plate In the construction of metal tanks, particularly supporting and carrying device which is simple round steel tanks for the storage of petroleum in construction and light in weight but at the d p r eum pr d c the t nk re ne y 20 same time is rugged and of sufficient strength constructed of plates of structural steel, the plates.- to readily support and convey relatively large running in-thickness from inch upwards. The steel plates of considerable weight and bulk. plates forming the bottom are laid upon the Another object is to provide a plate carrying ground or uponan appropriate foundation built device which may be associated with and removed p Of Cinders a d me t grouting and the e 25 from the plate in quick and ready manner and. by and re joine g h in a water-tight manner means of which the said plate. may be moved or by riveting, bolting Welding- The Walls conveyed to its proper or ultimate position with shell of the tank. are g a y Constructed of respect to other plates of a tank shell and perrings made up of a number .of steel plate secmanently joined thereto. tions, the lowermost ring being joined to the 30 A further object is to provide a plate supportbottom by means of an annular angle iron or ing and conveying device which is quickly and the like, all joints being caulked or made waterreadily adjustable in order that a plate carried tight in other suitable manner when the conby the device may have its lower horizontal edge structionv is a rive-ted or boltedone.

spaced accurately with respect to the upper hori- It is a relatively simple matter to erect the first 5 zontal edges of plates to which it is to be attached. or lowermost ring sin e the Several plates Still another object is to provide a plate carrying this ring can very easily be positioned about ing device which is operable to readily position the periphery of t e a k O t adjusted n a plate with respect to a tank shell and to effect bowed to the proper arc and secured to the bot-- 40 proper alignment of the lower edge of the plate tom.- After the lowermost ring is laid, however, 40 with other plates regardless of whether they are it becomes increasingly difilcult to construct the to be lap-joined or butt-joined. higher rings of the tank since obviously each of With these and other objects in view, the inthe plates forming these rings must be elevated vention consists in the construction and novel to the proper point, their edges aligned with the.

combination and arrangement of parts hereinedges of the plates in the next lower ring and the 45 after fully described, illustrated in the accornplates themselves bowed and made to conform panying drawings, and set forth in the claims exactly with the contour of the previously conhereto appended, it being understood that varistructedportion oi the shell. The device of the ouschanges in the form, proportion and minor present invention provides .means which rest 5 detailsvoi construction, within the scope of the upon the upper edge of thealready constructed claims, may be resorted to without departing portion of the shell and which supp a plate from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any the next higher ring, inv accurately p ed 8 of the advantages thereof. 7 tion with respect to the previously constructed In the drawingsportion and by means of which the new plate 5:; v Fig. l is aperspective view of a plate carrying may be conveyed or wheeled to a desired position where it may then be clamped firmly in place and then joined to the plates of the next lower ring accurately and permanently.

The plate supporting device of the present invention includes two downwardly depending sides in the form of plate sections 5 and 6 which are joined together but spaced apart adjacent their upper edges by means of bolts 1 and 8, which bolts also serve as axles for rotatable wheels or trollies 9 and ID, the peripheries of these trollies being somewhat concave so as to ride securely upon the upper edge of the finished portion of the tank shell. Preferably the upper edge of one of the side plates, for instance 6, is curved inwardly as at H, while the other plate 5 has its upper edge bent over the curved portion at an angle of about 45 as indicated at |2, the inwardly bent portion I2 serving to guide a plate to be carried by the device into pro-per position as will hereinafter appear.

One of the plates, as 6, carries an upwardly extending framework, preferably formed of me tallic rods or tubing and comprising an inverted U-shaped member l3 strengthened and given rigidity by the struts I4 and I5 and the brace l6. The opposite side plate 5 carries a similar framework composed of the inverted U-shaped member struts |8 and I9 and brace 20, which framework, however, preferably extends upwardly a substantial distance further than does the framework carried by the side 6. These framework constructions, formed as they are of the various members composed of relatively light rods or tubing, form a strong and sturdy, but yet a structure which is quite light in weight, for supporting and guiding the heavy metal plates used in constructing a tank shell.

Adjacent the lower edge of the side 5 of the device there is provided a journal 2| forming a bearing for the downwardly projecting shaft 22 which carries in rotatable fashion aguide-wheel or roller 23. The opposite side 6 is similarly provided with a journal 24, downwardly depending shaft 25 and guide-wheel or roller 26. It will be seen that, since the only means holding the sides 5 and 6 together are the bearing bolts 1 and 8, upon which the trollies 9 and I0 are mounted rather loosely, the said sides 5 and 6 are free to have a somewhat swinging movement toward and away from one another. Therefore, in operation of the device the guide wheels 23 and 26 will generally bear against either side of a plate or shell section which the device straddles even though it be used with shells of varying thickness.

Upon one of the sides 5 is mounted a bracket or platform 21 which supports a jack or lifting device comprisinga stationary internally bored and screwthreaded body portion 28 and a correspondingly screw-threaded extensible lifting member 29. It is obvious that rotation of the lifting member 29 in one direction or the other will cause the same to move upwardly or downwardly as the case may be. The lifting member may be rotated by means of an appropriate wrench or in other wellknown manner, or it may even be operated hydraulically in accordance with the known operation of hydraulic jacks. As seen in the various figures of the drawings, the extensible member 29 of the jack is adapted to support a plate member '1 at its lower edge and to raise or lower the same as desired. A stationary lug 3|! is also provided on the side 5 of the plate carrier for supporting the plate when the member 29 is in a lowermost position.

In operation, in utilizing the device of the present invention in the construction of a steel tank, the numeral 3| is used to designate plates of the lower ring of a tank shell or of other rings already previously constructed and joined together in permanent fashion. It is now desired to position additional plates above the plates 3| and spaced therefrom quite accurately so that thenew plate may be welded, riveted or otherwise secured permanently in position. In the present instance, in Fig. 2, for example, two of the plate-carrying devices of the present invention are utilized for conveying the new plate 32 into proper positioning with respect to the plates 3|. Obviously, any desired number of carriers may be used depending upon the length and weight of the plate being installed. In Fig. 2, two of the plate carriers, designated as A and B, are mounted upon the fixed plates 3| so as to straddle the same, with the sides 5 and 6 of the carriers on either side of the plates 3| and the trollies 1 and 8 resting upon and supported by the upper edges of the plates, as clearly seen in Fig. 4. The plate to be installed, namely, plate 32, is raised from the ground level by a suitable hoisting device such as a crane or the like, and placed in the plate carriers A and B, as clearly seen in the drawings, the extensible member 29 of the jack being in a lower position so that the lower edge of the plate 32 will rest upon and be supported by the lugs 30. The plate C is then wheeled into position, the carriers using the top edge of the plates 3| as a track. Fig. 2 shows the plate 32 in the process of being 'moved into appropriate position. It is understood that the plate will be wheeled in a direction toward the right until the joint between the plates 3| will approximately bisect the plate 32, tanks of this type generally being constructed with the plates in staggered fashion. After the plate 32 has arrived at the approximate final position the extensible members 29 of the jacks are screwed up or otherwise raised, lifting the plate 32 so that its lower edge is slightly higher than the top edge of plates 3 Obviously, this distance between the edges of the plates 3| and 32 may be gauged and adjusted quiteaccurately by suitable measuring devices. In some instances it will be desirable to insert between the edges of the plates 3| and 32, plate spacing shims such as those shown in my application for patent about to be filed. be lowered so that the plate 32 rests upon the shims and will then be accurately spaced from the plates 3|.

The plate, having been properly positioned both vertically and horizontally, the end of the same marked X in Fig. 2 is then sprung into position so that it is in substantially the same vertical plane as is the plate 3| which it adjoins and is then clamped in place temporarily. The jack member 29 of the carrier device Bis now lowered so that the carrier may slide freely along the upper edge of the plates 3| and the said carrier is moved to the left toward carrier A. The plate 32 is then sprung further in position, either resting on the upper edge of plate 3|, or upon appropriate shims and another clamping device applied to hold the plate 32 securely in position and with the proper bow in vertical alignment with the plate 3|. This process continues until both carriers A and B have been removed entirely from under the plate 32 at the end indicated by Y, and suificient clamps have been applied to give the plate 32 the requisite curvature and in direct vertical alignment with the plates 3|. Thereafter, the plate 32 may be joined to the lower plates 3|,

The jack members 29 may then preferably by welding, or in any other suitable or desired fashion.

A feature of prime importance in the present invention is the fact that the plate carrier hereof is provided with means to effect quick and ready vertical adjustment of the plate, thus enabling use of the carrier in constructions which are to be either butt-jointed or lap-jointed. For instance, in using the carrier for the erection of a tank shell with either riveted or welded lap joints, the jack 28 will be screwed down so that the lower edge of plate 32 will extend below the upper edge of plate 3| 2. sufiicient distance to secure the proper lapping of the plates. Thereafter the plates may be permanently joined, suitable clamping devices being used as an intermediary, if desired.

In using the carrier for the erection of a tank shell with butt welded joints, the jack 28 is utilized to raise the plate being carried and align it, as fully described hereinbefore.

Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides a device simple and light, but yet of rugged construction, which renders the operation of supporting and positioning a plate to be installed in the construction of a metallic tank very simple and very easily accomplished, with the possibilities of a minimum of error. It is understood, of course, that the plates 32 are often very large, heavy and unwieldy. The positioning and proper clamping and bowing of the same preparatory to being joined to previously constructed portions of the shell is an operation which is almost impossible by hand and even extremely difiicult with the help of cranes and other ordinary lifting devices. Once placed in the carrier of this invention, the plate to be installed may be quickly moved into the proper position with a minimum of eifort and brought into proper relationship with the previously installed plates in the most positive and most accurate manner yet devised.

While herein has been shown and described a specific arrangement and kind of apparatus elements, and. a specific example of a mode of producing a desired result, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such specific apparatus and method of use but contemplates all such variants thereof as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

It is therefore apparent that this invention embraces the provision of a device for supporting and positioning plates, whatever the specific details of construction of the device, so long as there is a travelling member which may be conveniently termed a dolly, which is adapted to rest upon and move along the upper edge of a tank shell section, which has means for preventing or discouraging displacement laterally, and which is provided with means for adjustably supporting a plate in upright fashion.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for supporting and positioning metal plates in the construction of tank shells, a

frame construction comprising a pair of side portions adapted to straddle a top portion of the tank shell, said side portions extending downwardly the inner and outer side respectively of said shell a sufficient distance and provided at their lower ends with means adapted to engage the respective side of the tank shell to prevent tilting of the frame, wheel means disposed between and rotatably mounted with respect to said members ofthe frame construction and adjacent the upper portions thereof and adapted to rest upon the upper edge of a tank shell with said side members straddling the same, guide members extending upwardly from each of said side portions and adapted to receive between them a plate to be supported and positioned with respect to the tank shell, means carried by said frame construction for supporting a plate between said guide members, and guard means carried by said frame construction and disposed between said guide members to overlie said wheel means and effective to deflect a plate being placed on the supporting device, alongside said wheel means and into position on said supporting means.

,2. In a device for supporting and positioning metal plates in the construction of tank shells, a frame construction comprising a pair of side portions adapted to straddle a top portion of the tank shell, said side portions extending downwardly the inner and outer side respectively of said tank shell a sufilcient distance and provided at their lower ends with means adapted to engage the respective side of the tank shell to prevent tilting of the frame, wheel means disposed between and rotatably mounted with respectto said members of the frame construction and adjacent the upper portions thereof and adapted to rest upon the upper edge of a tank shell with said side members straddling the same, guide members extending upwardly from each of said side portions and adapted to receive between them a plate to be supported and positioned with respect to the tank shell and being of suflicient height to support a plate against tilting, and a lifting device for engaging the lower edge of a plate, carried by one of said side members and adapted to adjustably support a plate between said guide members.

3. A construction according to claim 2, the addition of guide rollers carried by said side portions adjacent the lower end portions thereof.

4. A construction according to claim 2, with the addition of a lug located upon said frame construction and adapted to fixedly support a plate when the lifting device is in a lowermost position.

5. A construction according to claim 2, with the addition of guard means carried by said frame construction and disposed between said guide members to overlie said wheel means thereof and effective to deflect a plate being placed on said frame construction alongside said wheel means and into position on said supporting means.

WILLIAM S. COLE.

with 

